BOSTON – Despite quickly falling behind in the count and eventually flying out to right field to lead off the game for the Red Sox in the series opener against the Twins on Monday at Fenway, Brock Holt had succeeded in doing his job.

“Your first at-bat is more for the team than for yourself,” said Holt. “Especially in your first at-bat, you want to see some pitches and let the guys behind you see some pitches.”

The utility man certainly did that despite falling behind 0-2 against Twins starter Kevin Correia. Holt was tough to put away, fouling off pitch after pitch, finally working the count full. On the 11th pitch of the at-bat, he flew out to the warning track in right field.

“Leadoff is a spot in the order I’ve hit pretty much my entire career, so it’s something that’s not really new to me,” said Holt. “After that first at-bat, you kind of turn into a normal guy in the order, but I try to take that mind-set up there that in my first at-bat, I’m going to see some pitches for the rest of the guys.”

Holt, whose .338 average leads all major league rookies with at least 100 plate appearances, has been a revelation at the top of the order for the Red Sox since he hit his way into the spot. He’s reached base in 24 of the 26 games he’s batted leadoff.

And as impressive as Holt has been atop the Red Sox order, his most important contributions have come on defense, where he’s making sure the Sox are never short-handed. A lifelong middle infielder, Holt has already logged time at first base, third base, left field, right field and center field for the Red Sox this season.

“The one thing he’s responded to is us putting him at any defensive position, and he’s handled it well,” said manager John Farrell. ““His new-found versatility has been not only an asset, but a luxury for us.”

Holt is the Red Sox version of a Swiss army knife mostly because he hasn’t shied away from on-the-job training as he’s navigated new positions in the field.

“I’ve never really had to do that before,” said Holt. “I’ve always played either shortstop or second base coming up from high school through college and the minor leagues.”

Before this season, Holt had played 467 of his 494 professional games at short or second. And before he joined the Red Sox organization a year ago, he’d played all but seven of 438 career games in the middle of the infield.

Page 2 of 2 - An injury to Will Middlebrooks gave Holt his chance to start growing defensively, and other teammates’ trips to the DL have created more opportunity to showcase his versatility.

“The need drove it,” said Farrell. “And as a guy returned, we found where an opening was, whether it’s been first base when Mike Carp broke his foot. When Nap came back we moved him to left, then we moved him to right, and he’s been great everywhere.”

But there’s at least one spot people shouldn’t expect to see the 5-foot-8 jack of most trades.